2008 Pontiac Solstice Performance Review [ 2007 ]
Based on analysis of 44 Solstice reviews and test drives.
Performance - What the Auto Press Says
Reviewers appreciate the Solstice's zippy engine trims, good handling, and solid brakes. "Pontiac's first attempt at a two-seat roadster is mostly a success," says Edmunds, "as all the necessary ingredients are here: a powerful front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, a fully independent suspension, big wheels and tires and a close-to-perfect weight balance." Automobile Magazine adds that the Solstice is "a barn swallow, smooth and swift in low-level flight, highly agile, able to zig-zag at speed." The Auto Channel concludes that the Solstice "carries itself like a true sports car, its classic rear wheel drive and four-wheel independent suspension layout allows for that correct old-timey roadster ride." While most find the Solstice base trim to offer capable performance, some reviews prefer the GXP model - which CNET boasts, "[H]as the performance to back up its pretty-boy looks."
Acceleration and Power
The 2008 Solstice comes with a standard 2.4-liter Ecotec® four-cylinder engine with Electronic Throttle Control. This 2.4-liter delivers 177 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. Most reviewers find this engine adequate, but cite it as being a bit lethargic. "[T]he 2.4-liter engine is slow to rev," says Consumer Guide. "Still, there's plenty of pep for most needs, though highway passing power is modest." Edmunds adds, "While not exactly a rocket ship, the Solstice performs well." Overall, few reviewers find the engine weak, but Cars.com does say that performance on the Solstice "falls short of the car's visual promise, due largely to the engine's lack of low-end torque." With this engine, the 2008 Pontiac Solstice has an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated fuel economy of 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway.
The Solstice GXP comes with a 2.0-liter Turbo Ecotec® DOHC four-cylinder engine that produces 260 horsepower and delivers 260 pound-feet of torque. Auto reviewers agree that this engine produces much more power and quicker acceleration than the base level. The GXP has GM's first gasoline direct-injection turbocharged engine. While Consumer Guide claims that the power really doesn't kick in until "after the initial wait for turbo lag," New Car Test Drive proclaims that " There is virtually no turbo lag," adding that the GXP "can rocket out of corners." CNET, however, feels the turbo lag: "While driving on the freeway at cruising speeds, the Solstice GXP did have a tendency to hesitate for a second or two when we floored the gas pedal, but once the rpms climbed, the turbo took over and we were catapulted forward." The 2008 Pontiac Solstice GXP has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway.
Both trim levels of the 2008 Pontiac Solstice come standard with Aisin® five-speed manual transmission, but can also be fitted with an optional five-speed automatic. Most reviewers find the manual shifter generally smooth, if a bit lagging. Motor Trend says the manual transmission has "snick-snicks worthy of an MX-5," and "slightly longer throws." New Car Test Drive says the shifter has "nice, short throws, with no doubt as to which gear is sought or selected. Yet it takes quite a bit of effort to move between gears. This makes the gearchange feel a bit notchy, until the driver realizes that it's better to just shove the lever into the next slot rather than trying to finesse." Edmunds reports, "Gear spacing in the transmission is also very wide, which exacerbates the engine's lazy acceleration," adding that it "seems to take forever to need the next gear."
Handling and Braking
Reviewers agree that the Solstice handles well and is entertaining to drive. Edmunds calls the Solstice a "cruiser with sporting tendencies, but we took the car through a few aggressive Southern California canyons and walked away impressed by its grip and fun factor." The Detroit News notes that the car has "a direct connection with the road that is sorely lacking in most other vehicles today," and that it responds "crisply, almost intuitively to the slightest nudge."
The 2008 Pontiac Solstice comes with standard four-wheel independent suspension and the option for a sport-tuned upgrade, while the GXP trim receives the sport-tuned four-wheel independent suspension standard. Most reviewers find the suspension taut and suited for a sport ride, while the GXP suspension is both firm and forgiving. Consumer Guide calls the suspension "remarkable compliant and composed over most bumps -- for sports cars." Kelley Blue Book adds that "cornering balance and performance are simply outstanding -- even better, in some ways, than the well-respected Mazda Miata -- yet the ride doesn't beat you up on lumpy surfaces."
The Solstice GXP, with the sport-tuned suspension, is noted by reviewers for its firmer ride. The Chicago Sun-Times says the "suspension is fairly supple, but some might feel the ride is too firm." The New York Times adds, "The car is set up to provide a firm ride commensurate with its sporting aspirations, and that's fine, but this suspension feels as if it's designed for the track at the expense of the real world."
Both trim levels of the Pontiac Solstice come with rack-and-pinion power steering, which most reviewers find responsive and communicative on the base trim. Automobile Magazine describes the Solstice's steering as "building a smooth, even crescendo," adding that the "sensitivity, response and feedback clearly have been calibrated by true friends of the road." Kelley Blue Book concludes that the power rack-and-pinion steering is "crisp and accurate." Yet, the Pontiac GXP, while suited with the same steering, "feels rather numb in the on-center wheel position, but is plenty quick for normal driving," says MSN.
Reviewers agree that the Solstice's brakes are solid. The car's base trim comes with four-wheel brakes with the option for an anti-locking system, while the GXP receives four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes standard. According to Edmunds: "Braking performance is good, with a stop from 60 mph coming in the 120-foot range. The antilock system, however, can sometimes be abrupt and jerky in action." The New York Times calls the brakes "emphatic," and the Chicago Sun-Times calls the brake pedal feel "reassuringly firm, but stopping distances are average." New Car Test Drive adds that although the "brakes stop the car right now . . . the harder and longer you use them, the more the pedal softens and its travel increases."
